Answer
In Romans 15:13, the apostle Paul writes, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope” (ESV). Here, the word hope refers to “joyful and confident expectation of eternal salvation” (Thayer’s Greek Lexicon). The basis of the believer’s hope is God Himself, and He will complete the work of salvation that He began (Romans 8:28–30; Philippians 1:6).
In Christianity, hope is not wishful thinking or naïve optimism. Instead, it is a settled confidence in the eternal and unchanging promises of God: “We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf” (Hebrews 6:19–20a, ESV). Therefore, we can hope in Him, knowing that the finished work of Christ provides security and stability for our souls.
Paul begins Romans 15:13 with the words, “May the God of hope fill you.” This is a wonderful reminder that God is the source of our hope. In a world filled with hopelessness and despair, Paul prays that believers will continue to draw from a well of hope that will never run dry. After all, God is both the source and the sustainer of our hope.
Paul’s description of God as the “God of hope” signifies that, even when the future seems uncertain and unpredictable, God’s steadfast love and faithfulness will keep our minds in perfect peace (Isaiah 26:3). We may not always see or believe it, but He is working all things together for good (Romans 8:28).
Next, in Romans 15:13, Paul prays that the God of hope would fill us with “all joy and peace.” Here, we see that hope is connected to the qualities of joy and peace. In other words, hope generates joy and peace within us, even in the face of adversity.
In a biblical sense, joy is not a fleeting happiness derived from favorable circumstances. Rather, it is the gladness of heart that comes from knowing God (Psalm 16:11), abiding in Christ (John 15:5), and being filled with the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22–23). Furthermore, peace is not the absence of conflict, nor is it a subjective feeling. To the contrary, peace denotes the notion of positive blessing produced by having a right relationship with God through faith in Christ (see Romans 5:1).
The combination of hope, joy, and peace forms a spiritual triad that sustains and empowers believers. Hope inspires confidence in the goodness and sovereignty of God. And this confidence, in turn, produces joy and peace as believers find rest in the unwavering love and eternal promises of God.
Romans 15:13 is a heartfelt prayer and blessing for believers to experience the fulness of God’s hope, joy, and peace “by the power of the Holy Spirit.” When faced with moments of uncertainty, we must continue to depend on the power of the Holy Spirit, for without Him we can do nothing.
